Perhaps _she_ is here. And if “she” _is_ here--then we have not the right to leave her. [_Indicating the SHIELDED ONE._ SCORNFUL ONE [_To CHEATED ONE._] Tell us: are you the woman Gordon Wallace was with on the night of October 25? CHEATED ONE Yes. MOTHERLY ONE Of course we’ve all said that. SCORNFUL ONE But she says it in a different way. MOTHERLY ONE [_To SHIELDED ONE._] I am afraid that you will have to leave with us. It seems she has the right. [_These four move to the door._ SHIELDED ONE [_Thinking of it just in time._] But do you think she has the right just because she is the one? [_To consider this, they go back and sit down._ SILLY ONE Leave me! SCORNFUL ONE [_Wickedly inspired._] Suppose we do! You know, I _like_ the idea. Why--the more I think about it--the better I like it. [_To the other women._] Yes, come! [_To the young man._] This is the lady you were going to die for! SHIELDED ONE [_Distressed._] But, no! What can it do for her? And how, through her, can we reach my poor sisters smothered under woman’s honor? I insist upon it! I am the one! CHEATED ONE [_Suddenly turning upon her._] You are not the one! MOTHERLY ONE Now I think, to avoid feeling between you two, I had better stay. I’m a nurse, and a mother, and I keep coming back to the idea these things are needed. SCORNFUL ONE No, you have too many other things to do. I am the one to remain. I am--peculiarly fitted for it. SHIELDED ONE You are not fitted for it at all. There is no one less fitted for it than you. SCORNFUL ONE How do you make that out? SHIELDED ONE You don’t need it. Woman’s honor never hurt you. SCORNFUL ONE [_Reluctantly accepting this. To PRISONER._] Are you acquainted with this woman? [_Indicates CHEATED ONE._ PRISONER No. SCORNFUL ONE Then why are you so afraid of her? PRISONER I’m not-- [_But he is forced to meet the smoldering eye of the CHEATED ONE; he cannot look away._ SHIELDED ONE [_Almost in tears._] But you were going to help me lead a better life. And now you stand here quibbling over a petty question of fact, when the whole great question of escape from woman’s honor is at stake! Oh, is it true that women will not help one another? That they are hard and self-seeking? [_She breaks down; MOTHERLY ONE goes to comfort her._ SILLY ONE My heart is full-- SCORNFUL ONE Your heart is full of a simpering parrot! [_The LAWYER returns._ LAWYER Ladies--ladies--quarreling? I’m sorry to find you in this mood. I had hoped while you were here together you might--arrive at some understanding. SCORNFUL ONE [_To SILLY ONE._] I wish you’d go home. We might arrive at something if we didn’t have you on our backs. LAWYER Now why must women always dislike each other? MOTHERLY ONE [_In her motherly way._] If I were you I’d try not to talk much. LAWYER Why not? SCORNFUL ONE She has a kind heart. Now I--I’d let you talk. LAWYER Sometimes it seems quite as well not to try to follow women.